Simple Motion
 Standardbred Gelding that made $86,000 in racing career, that was with breaking his right hind leg at age 3, then again at age 9.
I recieved a call that there was a horse in need of a home. I went with a friend, at the time I didn't have my own trailer to pick up this "free" horse. There he was a skinny bay gelding in a racing stable with deep brown eyes that just said "I'm ready".
I grabbed the lead rope and loaded him in the trailer, then asking what his name was. I was told "Simple Motion, and we call him Simple around here." I said thanks, and thought his new name would be Mo. With my friend driving and me giddy in the passengers seat we headed down the dirt drive with Mo in the back...as soon as we made it to the pavement Mo started rocking and banging back there.... I climbed into the back and continued to ride home (12 miles) with a fire breathing dragon that made the most painful noises I have ever heard. Mo would kick the back of the trailer, lunge forward, and then make a throat sound of a dying animal. So there we were starting our life together.
Thinking "what have I done?", I was never so relieved to see the driveway of the barn. We both hopped out of the trailer and were much happier! Mo met May, and Impy over the fence and joined them a few hours later in the pasture. Needless to say in the begining the whole 24/7 turnout with a run-in was a little sub par for the prince. Mo had never been ridden, and we spent the first few weeks just ponying him off of Impy. I was then able to bring the crew up to 185 Academy Rd and begin a life up there.
Mo progressed in his riding and always took care of his rider. Mo was always the last horse in a line, and he liked it that way. Mo pulled the cart we have, loved baths, hated puddles, and loved his buddy Cash. Over the years Mo took kids around the ring, through the woods, and back again. He would stand for hours to be groomed, thought
 the tractor was a major MONSTER, and could always bring a ball to Cash when wanting to play. Mo didn't like new horses coming to the barn, he even had his own privacy screen for an adjustment period until he could stand them. (Often they would become good buddies after a while) Sometimes he would hide in the side stall and run out at the new horse, flashing his teeth, and then run back in hiding....what a goober. IF you dared to be late feeding Mo would let you know by banging his bucket, and waving his head up and down. Mo was able to do a bow for a peppermint too.
I did a routine worming of all horses in July of 07, and unfortunatly this was what did end Mo's life. Within48hrs of giving him this wormer, he was unable to swallow, just like a text book choke. We went through different foods, thinking it was a throught irritation, but to our suprise the wbc counts were really high. Mo then began not to be able to eat even the mushed food, and soaked hay within another 48hrs. Rounds of Antibiotics were given, DMSO thru the IV (at the clinic), and lost an amazing amount of weight.
Mo spent two days (The only two in his time with me) away from home, at the clinic. The decision after treatment was then made to bring him home and see how he could do. Mo did a small recovery the first night, and then we found him in the morning on the other side of the barn not wanting to leave the stall for breakfast. I asked him to go to his breakfast dish, and when he did turn to go out he hit his head on the stall door, and wobbled in the back...NOT NORMAL. Especially since he had lived here for six years...believe me he knew where his breakfast dish was!
At that moment I knew it was time, and called the vet. By the afternoon when the vet was able to come he had begun to drown himself with fluid in the lungs. It was time. I walked him out to the pasture and held onto him as he fell.
Cash, whinnied at him and then came running over. Sue, Arizona, and Ida followed. Cash came and sniffed at his body, nickering. That was tough to watch. I stayed with him as Mike dug his grave, mom had Amelia and we all cried. Mike finished burying him and we planted a pair tree with rocks on either side atop of him. I miss him dearly, and think of him often. It truly was a gift to find at Hemphills in August of 07...... Dobbin Mo's uncle!
 Here is Mike riding Mo
Roy
 Standardbred Gelding named Roy. Roy was listed on mainehorse.com, as a horse that was; "free and needs a new home, with another horse, and has an old injury, but rideable."
Mike and I drove down below Portland, and found this little place with a shed in a small field and Roy was locked inside, looking over the door at us, expecting food. Roy spoke right off to me, and was ready to come home with us. SO there he was...
Roy was in a small flooded stall, and had no visible water bucket (not like he couldn't drink the water that was up over his hoofs!(Just kidding)) or hay. He had been in this "stall" for the past year, and the lady that had him had never owned a horse before. She did know that it was not a good situation he was in. She stated that the old owner had told her to keep him in the stall for a year to let the knee heal, as he had broken it racing.
Mike and I made our way to see Roy, and upon looking at him I was devistated. His left knee was twice the size that it should be, with a bow in the whole leg leading up to the shoulder. He was perminantly disfigured, and I knew not rideable. His feet had not been trimmed in over a year, and were severly overgrown making it harder for him to walk. But that is OK. I asked my husband Mike to give the final yes or no, and to take him out for a walk.
So here is a horse that has been in a stall for a year, and a husband that is very supportive, but not totally horseyfied! Roy limped along behind Mike like a puppy, and Mike I think did like him. Mike loaded him into the trailer, and then we were on our way home to Monmouth.
 Roy made the trip, and went into part of the barn where he was able to go in and out as he pleased, into a small paddock. Roy did get tired the first few days, as it was such an effort to move around finally so much. Jana came out and did his teeth, which were horrible. Roy did like his food however and took his time eating his grain. Eventually Roy moved in with the rest of the herd, and did keep up for the majority of the time, he even was able to give a buck now and then. They all sort of watched out for him, even Mo who was usually a bully at first. Addie really hit it off with Roy, and did like to groom and take him for walks after her lessons.
Roy gained weight, got a start of a summer coat, and was able to graze for the first time in a long time I believe. In May one day when I went to feed I knew it was time, Roy was tired and his knee had swollen to twice the already big size. His hind end was tired too, and in all fairness quality is better than quantity.
Although he was here for a short time Roy touched many lives. He taught me not to give up on the "unrideables", he taught Addie to keep going, and to foster those that are picked on in life, to my husband he taught that some horses are "OK" to like:) Roy even had the "Winter Pals" group from the school next door, that we come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and disablilities. ****While digging his grave Mike and I found a white granite heart shaped stone in which we have had his name engraved, and will be placing atop stones in the pasture.
|
Blazing Star Stables
Katherine L. Murphy
185 Academy Rd
Monmouth, Me 04259
207-441-5071
 |
| Web Page Maker |